There’s a new scam making the rounds, and it’s one that could easily catch anyone off guard if you’re not careful. The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) has issued a warning about a texting scam that’s been reported across the state.
Scammers are pretending to be the BMV and are sending out text messages that claim the recipient has an unpaid traffic ticket. The message threatens that failure to pay will lead to a suspended driver’s license, and it includes a link urging immediate payment. It’s a trick, plain and simple, and it’s designed to steal your personal or financial information.
BMV Registrar Charlie Norman made it clear: “If you receive this text, do not fall for this scam. Do not click any links and delete the text. Ohio BMV will never send you a text demanding payment or requesting your personal information.”
This warning is especially important for our senior and elderly neighbors. Many of you may be less familiar with how these text message scams work, and that’s exactly who these scammers are hoping to target. Please take a moment to check in with your friends and loved ones, particularly those who may not be as tech-savvy. A quick heads-up could save them a lot of trouble.
If you receive a suspicious message like this, the best course of action is to delete it right away. Do not click on any links or respond to the message. If you’re ever in doubt, contact your local BMV office directly using a trusted phone number.
There are various versions of the text message used in this scam. Each one use different links and phone numbers of origin. One came from or appears to come from a phone number with +63 as the country code which is for the Philippines. All contain different links with way different ways to pay that are not official government links that end in .gov.
You can also report these scam attempts to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. And if you believe you might have been tricked into giving away information, don’t wait—contact your local police department as soon as possible.
Stay safe out there, and remember: when in doubt, just delete.
To see the full press release from the Ohio BMV use this link. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OHBMV/bulletins/3e44428
